500 Startups Launches “Falcon’s Nest” Pitch Competition in Kuwait

PUBLISHED April 18, 2019

by Hasan Haider

In partnership with Ahli United Bank, 500 Startups is proud to announce the first of its kind pitch competition in Kuwait—Falcon’s Nest. Kuwaiti startups from across the country are flocking to earn the position as the top national startup.

Falcon’s Nest is an opportunity for local startups to secure a chance to pitch their company to Silicon Valley venture capital firm 500 Startups along with prominent Kuwaiti business executives who will give their candid feedback on the quality of their businesses and presentations.

Open to Kuwaiti startups of all stages, participants will be selected to pitch in a “Shark Tank” style competition on the 21st of April. Startups can apply online from today or show up early for a limited number of open auditions on the day of the competition. The top 5 companies will win mentorship and pitch training by the 500 Startups global team to present at Investor Day on the 1st of May.

“Kuwait has graduated several success stories in the technology space and we’re thrilled to contribute to the local ecosystem. Holding this competition in Kuwait reaffirms our belief in the potential of Kuwait startup community. Our aim is to support the startups and shed light on the most promising ones”, Sharif El Badawi, Partner ¹, 500 Startups.

This competition is also held in partnership with Zain Group as our gold partner. Other partners include Niu, KAFO and Sirdab Labs.

About 500 Startups500 Startups is a venture capital firm on a mission to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. We are one of the most active seed-stage venture capital firms in the world.²

Since our inception in Silicon Valley, 500 Startups has invested in over 2,200 companies via our 4 global funds and 15 thematic funds dedicated to either specific geographic markets or verticals. Our 100+ team members are located in multiple locations worldwide, with the 500 Startups global portfolio of investments spanning over 74 countries.³ In 2017, 500 Startups launched a new fund focused on the MENA region, 500 Falcons, which had an oversubscribed at its final closing at $33M. To date, 500 Falcons has invested in over 100 startups in the MENA region.⁴

Beyond providing seed capital, 500 further supports startups via its Seed Programs in San Francisco and Mexico City and the Series A Program in multiple locations globally including in the MENA region. The Seed Program emphasizes digital marketing, customer acquisition, lean startup practices, and fundraising for pre-Seed companies while the Series A Program delivers growth marketing and investment for post-seed and pre-Series A companies. 500 Startups aims to contribute to the development of thriving innovation ecosystems around the world to better equip startups with tools to succeed by running educational programs for investors as well as partnership programs with corporations and governments around the world.

¹ The title “Partner” is used in accordance with customary business practice in the venture capital industry and does not indicate a legal status as a “partner” in a partnership.² Pitchbook, 2018 Annual Global Leagues Table – page 12 ³ Approximated as at 12/31/2018 based on internal data across the entire family of 500 Startups investment funds and has not been independently verified.⁴ Approximated as at 4/17/2019 based on internal data and has not been independently verified.

Notes:500 STARTUPS PROGRAMS, INVESTOR EDUCATION SERVICES, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP CONSULTING SERVICES AND EVENTS ARE OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L.L.C. (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 STARTUPS”) AND THE FUNDS ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE ACTIVITIES. SUCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT PROVIDED AS PART OF ANY SUCH PROGRAMS, SERVICES OR EVENTS BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT, LEGAL, TAX OR ACCOUNTING ADVICE BY 500 STARTUPS OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES.

THIS POST IS INTENDED SOLELY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE FALCON’S NEST COMPETITION AND 500 STARTUPS. ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS POST IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 STARTUPS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST AND WHILE 500 STARTUPS HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY INFORMATION OR CONTENT IN THIS POST, BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYTHING HEREIN BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 STARTUPS INVESTMENT FUND.

Published by Hasan Haider

Hasan is a Partner at 500 Startups taking care of the MENA region. He believes in building thriving ecosystems across the region, investing in startups and having a lasting impact. A reformed investment banker, startup founder and founder of one of the first angel investment groups in the MENA region, he's been active in the region's budding ecosystem since 2007.

* This website is updated as of March 6, 2019. Past investment performance does not indicate future results. All users of this website should note these important Terms of Use governing the use of this website.